McGonigle & Hunsaker, LLP - Orange, CA

Compassionate and Certified Elder Law Counsel in Orange County

Navigating the legal, medical, and financial decisions that accompany aging or disability requires attorneys with specialized knowledge and sincere empathy. McGonigle & Hunsaker, LLP delivers focused legal services tailored to the needs of older adults, individuals with special needs, and their loved ones. Headquartered at 701 South Parker Street in Orange, California, the firm is widely respected for its mastery of public benefit planning and fiduciary law. Managing partner Melinda Hunsaker is a Certified Elder Law Attorney accredited by the National Elder Law Foundation, and partner Christina McGonigle serves as a prominent leader in the Orange County Bar Association Elder Law Section. Families seeking to hire an attorney who will protect an aging relative or disabled child rely on this dedicated legal team.

Comprehensive Estate Planning: Wills, Trusts, and Directives

A well-structured estate plan guarantees that your assets are protected and that your healthcare instructions are honored during periods of incapacity. When individuals look to find a lawyer to prepare essential estate documents, McGonigle & Hunsaker, LLP provides individualized solutions designed to avoid probate complications.

• Living Trusts and Wills: Crafting revocable living trusts, wills, and estate instruments that safeguard family privacy and streamline property transfer.
• Advance Healthcare Directives: Documenting medical treatment preferences and nominating trusted healthcare proxies for critical medical scenarios.
• Durable Powers of Attorney: Authorizing dependable agents to manage financial, property, and tax obligations if you become unable to do so.
• Special Needs Trusts: Establishing first-party and third-party supplemental needs trusts to enhance a loved one's standard of living without compromising Medi-Cal or SSI eligibility.

Uncontested Conservatorships and Protective Arrangements

When an adult family member experiences severe cognitive impairment or cannot manage essential self-care, relatives may need a lawyer urgently to establish formal legal guardianship or conservatorship. McGonigle & Hunsaker, LLP facilitates smooth court proceedings before the Orange County Probate Court.

• Probate Conservatorships: Securing court-ordered legal authority over the person and estate of seniors affected by dementia, stroke, or Alzheimer's disease.
• Limited Conservatorships: Assisting parents of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to maintain protective supervision while fostering independence.

Medi-Cal Long-Term Care Planning and Appeals

Skilled nursing home costs in Southern California can quickly consume a family's lifetime savings. The firm assists clients with proactive and crisis Medi-Cal planning to obtain essential long-term care coverage while protecting the family home and assets for a surviving spouse. Their attorneys also represent families in formal Medi-Cal appeals and state recovery matters.

Trust Administration and Fiduciary Representation

Serving as an executor, trustee, or attorney-in-fact comes with rigorous fiduciary duties. McGonigle & Hunsaker, LLP provides guidance to fiduciaries in inventorying assets, notifying creditors, preparing accountings, and distributing estates according to California probate law.

Protect Your Loved Ones with McGonigle & Hunsaker, LLP

Planning for long-term care or supporting a loved one with special needs requires knowledgeable and caring legal guidance. Contact McGonigle & Hunsaker, LLP in Orange, California today to schedule a consultation and begin securing your family's financial and personal future.